Never seen her live but like how her records are nicely recorded.
Diana Krall
I was in Fort Lauderdale last Thursday and saw/heard Diana Krall. Second time, first was in Wilkes Barre PA after Wallflower cd, this one after her recent one. Two quite different concerts, both outstanding. This one was "jazzy", an upright bass, a drummer, guitarist, fiddle/violinist (and a pianist/vocalist). 5 great musicians on the stage, and a wonderful singer. She is wonderful live. Highly recommended, as equipment reviewers often say. Worth the price of admission.
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Man, some of you guys have thin skins! I didn’t think that responses to a post about an artist or a concert experience needed to be limited to posts expressing agreement, but used as an opportunity to discuss and offer reasons for why there is agreement or disagreement. And if one or two posters are less than generous with their comments, so what? I haven’t seen anything particularly “ugly” written about any artist so far. How about everyone be a little more secure with their preferences and opinions. Personally, I don’t particularly like Krall for many of the reasons already stated. For a jazz singer her delivery sounds to me as stylistically forced and way too deliberate; planned. I envision a singer who practices her delivery (interpretation) over and over down to the last little “nuance” and detail with the end result being that there is little sense of the spontaneity and looseness that great jazz singing demands. Pleasant enough and I agree that the stuff that is more pop is more effective, but I think the point is that like others I prefer to listen to singers like London and Horne. |
@rpeluso. . .you are spot on that your OP was indeed an innocent attempt to share a positive experience you had. Had you posted a question such as, "What do you think of Diana Krall?" then indeed that's an invitation to debate and opposing point of view. Regardless, you broke the rules--having the temerity to express a personal point of view that the arbiters of superiority deem incorrect is strictly forbidden and you MUST be taken to task. You are wrong to enjoy Diana Krall, and you are wrong to post about it. You are wrong to then defend it. I know this to be a fact because others have said so. I am wrong too--it is now a known fact by association. I will be going to the concert this Sunday knowing I am wrong. I now know that I should have spent my money seeing a different, "authorized" performer. I'll hate the fact that I'm enjoying the show because that's wrong. I'll be filled with self-loathing the entire time. It will be great. |
She's fun to listen to and she's good at what she does. I would love to see her live even if I "only" own three of her lp's. Besides, live performances really make you see an artist in a different light. @rpeluso Agreed. It's like walking into someone's house and verbally trashing their decor or artwork. |
I enjoy good music and good playing and good singing. Diana Krall uses some of the best musicians and she plays piano pretty well also. I can tell you that in my opinion many of her songs are quite good and are the quality that I can listen to years later and still enjoy. That, to me is quality in recorded music. I've see her live on stage a few times and never left disappointed. She is quite good at what she does within her range. As I said earlier, she is on of the few artist that stays within her range and style. That is a very good thing. She may not be to everyone's taste, but neither was Shirley Horn, Nina Simone, etc. How many of you didn't care for Nina in the day, but now appreciate her music? she was definitely in her own style of music. Not normal, but it was great. I appreciate Diana Krall. The girl in the other room, the look of love, When I look in your eyes? are you kidding? Those are really great albums and great music. When I look in your eyes and why should I care are two of my favorite songs. Quite well done. enjoy |
I wonder what else in your life you spend so much energy on, wondering if there IS anything else at all. Proving your point seems to drive you, even if, in my opinion, your point is trivial and unimportant to nearly anyone else. But, you seemingly feel free to post any random thought that might cross your mind, so have it, |
I always find it humorous when people on these audio boards (and I've been on a lot) tear down great artists who have produced great recordings by mentioning other artists (many of whom no one as ever heard of) as being so superior. I guess it makes them feel good. They probably also spend $20,000 on tube amps that don't sound as good as a $3000 SS amp. |
Live in Paris is an awesome concert!!! The DVD and Bluray both have great audio. All or Nothing at All especially is one of my favorites, towards the end of the song I love the way they jam. All musicians are very talented and play so well together.. Temptation in The Girl in the other Room album is one of the songs I use to audition equipment. I've seen her a couple times in concert and was always very satisfied. |
DK is harmonically flat, even by Jazz standards that have no interesting harmonies. (I am using harmony in the musical sense of Chords.) - score 0/10. Melodically I find her uninteresting - maybe 4/10. Rhythm: nothing sophisticated 1/10. All in all a bore. Voice is excellent - at least 7/10. Malcolm Steward writing for Hi-Fi Choice gave her a great roasting. One of his comments was along the lines (I will try to quote from memory): "... and don't get me started on her sub-Liberace piano tinkling." !! Her backing 'band' have all the enthusiasm of men heading off to have vasectomies from a blind surgeon with Parkinson's. |
Put me in the camp of "I don't get it". I don't understand why audiophiles are fascinated with her.
I don't think she has a good classic voice. She just kind of - talks. But to each his own. Not my type of music either, except maybe as background music at a nice restaurant, but that's beside the point. I can appreciate great artists in unfavored genres, like Celine Dion and Whitney Houston. I just don't see it here. But then again, I don't get the audiophile fascination with screamers like Aretha Franklin or foggy vocals by Norah Jones either. |
I was in Santa Monica yesterday for a meeting and had a little time to kill afterwards. So, I went to Optimal Enchantment to talk with Randall. The equipment and systems that he has in his one room store/listening room are nothing short of amazing. I just needed a few moments to relax and talk and hear some great music and equipment. Very top of the line stupidly expensive Basis turntable and tone arm with a stupidly expensive cartridge, into Audio Research REF 10 phono stage and Audio Research REF 10 pre-amp, then into Vandersteen audio model 7 with Vandersteen amps. He played Diana Krall live in Paris. That was absolutely the best live recording I have every heard. the Engineers and sound recording technicians really knew their stuff. The worries of the day evaporated and with Diana Krall, Grant Green and Dean Martin playing I was there. I heard the same system a few months earlier and he used the same setup but with Audio Research REF 250 SE amps. that system completely disappeared. I can't say the same with the Vandersteen Amps. Don't get me wrong, I'll take the Vandersteen model 7's and his amps without hesitation. They were great. But, just had to post here that Diana Krall live in Paris is absolutely a great two album set. I ordered it immediately upon returning home. If you have a chance to stop in on Randall at his shop in Santa Monica, you won't find a more knowledgeable and likeable person. enjoy |
I don’t know anyone here well enough to be singling anyone out; I am not. This is just a general observation that I started to make in an earlier post and decided it was best to not go there; it certainly doesn’t apply in all cases. Imo, some audiophile/music lovers do not do a good enough job of separating the “ear-candy” appeal of some recordings from its intrinsic musical value when making an assessment of the recording’s or the artist’s musical merit. DK’s recordings are generally very well recorded and in a way that appeals to the audiophile’s sensibilities. Conversely, some artists whose recordings are generally not as “impressive” in the sonics department are sometimes bumped down a notch or two (or more) in spite of being on a considerably higher level of musicality. |
Isn’t Randy and his shop a treat, minorl?! He looks like a completely different person with his hair and beard gone---use to look like a damn hippie, now like a little old man ;-). He has a great sounding room and system, and is as nice a guy as you could know. I bought a used ARC LS-1 from Randy way back in the early 90’s, and was at his first shop (which had a co-owner) once, when they were having their close-out sale, right around the corner on Pacific Coast Highway, an apartment with a picture window that looked out on the Santa Monica beach. His room at the Hi-Fi shows is always one of the very best sounding, and he brings lots of great music on LP with which to demo his ARC/Vandersteen system. |
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@schubert "Everybody Creates , it’s human nature ." Clearly, Schubert, I was referring to artistic creation- not some amorphous "everybody." Here’s a snippet of a quote from Gordon Torr, a man who knows more than a little about creativity: "Believing that everyone has the capacity to be just as creative as the next person is as ludicrous as believing that everyone has the capacity to be just as intelligent as the next person, yet it has become almost universally accepted as a truism." All I’m saying is that it’s much too easy for those who merely consume to denigrate creators. And, at best, it’s tiresome. One thing that is generally true, though: "Everybody" has an opinion. :) But to get back on topic, I think Diana Krall is super. :) |
ps, thank you for these statements; there is an enormous difference between those who create and those who consume and denigrate, as you so perfectly stated here. The person who posted the quote from a review referencing Liberace, well that one is worthy of a psychology advanced degree dissertation, so easy for me to see, so difficult for others. Wait, am I as arrogant as some here? Could that be true? But my disdain for critics who have zero talent themselves is unbounded. Still I marvel that this post, initiated by me, was about a pleasant experience at a live concert event. Nothing more than that. BUT, I continue to be fascinated by the drive/urge/compulsion of some to crap all over others. And at times quite depressed by that same behavior. |
I am a huge fan of DK, no question. She has an evocative voice and such wonderful phasing... and she plays the piano at the same time. I have all her recordings. My pal loves Patty Barber and she is excellent, but to my ears, she is too analytical, but acknowledge that she is fabulous. Another jazz singer that I absolutely adore is Karen Souza.... her cover of "Every Breath You Take" is fabulous. |
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frogman Agree. Which is why I use a couple of songs I normally don't listen to for demoing speakers. Just to find what their potential is in case I get a phenomenal recording in the music I do listen to. And let's not lie ... it's to show off to curious guests also. How many of us love to see that expression on their faces and that familiar phrase "sounds like they're in the room". However, these recordings must also be within my tolerance musically. I don't care how good it sounds, if it bores the crap out of me, I'm not playing it. All these audiophile soft jazz, easy listening selections fall into that category for me. Especially if they don't have a talent that stands out as virtuosic. But like I said, to each their own. |
rpeluso OP ...Still I marvel that this post, initiated by me, was about a pleasant experience at a live concert event. Nothing more than that. BUT, I continue to be fascinated by the drive/urge/compulsion of some to crap all over others. And at times quite depressed by that same behavior. I truly don’t get why you have a need for everyone to support you. A forum doesn’t work well if it’s just an echo chamber. If I had posted "I went to a Slayer concert" I would fully expect to have my musical choice lambasted on this forum and would not have a problem with that, as everyone has a subjective opinion about music. If you only want one-way discussion, maybe next time you should title your subject "xxx (no dissenters)". I read your thread because the audiophile obsession with Diana Krall (and others) fascinates me, as I don’t see a stand-out talent. I’m interested in what it is about her, besides the recording quality, that draws them in. I’m always hoping a dissenter will point out a quality recording of what I consider good female vocals. I’m glad you had a wonderful time. |
jssmith, thanks for your thoughts; I don't have a need to be supported in my view, but am surprised, still, that my...oh never mind, you're right. My point was about a live show, not a recording. An experience at a live music event. I would have expected others who saw her live to agree or disagree, not a discussion about the value or lack of value of her artistry. Its how way off track a discussion about a live performance went that surprises me, but I seem to be the minority there, so okay. I also am disturbed by the nastiness that gets spread around, not only here, but all over. You may like Slayer, I may not, but I wouldn't even think about replying to your post (if it had happened) with a negative view of that band. Just wouldn't. Its not the disagreeing that bothered me, its the fact that it was not the point. Sorry. |
@whitestix Thanks for mentioning Karen Souza. I looked her up on Amazon, listened to several samples and ordered her 3 CD "The Collection" for $12 and change! What a deal!! She has a unique sound. Everything I heard had a very bluesy vibe to it. She purposely sings just off the note and then slides up to the note. Sort of a vocal approach to what Gershwin was well known for doing instrumentally. She takes a very unique approach to well known songs from various artists. Should be a fun music adventure. |
Nothing negative here! On my way to see her tonight (Raleigh/Durham) for the 4th time. Interesting to hear that theres more players. The earlier shows I saw were small arrangements like Trio. As for stage presence I obviously like her shows. I do remember my first one at Radio City Music Hall shortly after she was becoming a little more well known. I bet she didn't say 3 sentences all night. Played awesome show and got up and left. She didn't have to say anything cause the nailed it in playing. I couldn't be happier. She talks a little more these days and tells stories. As for recordings I have them all including the Christmas album. Yeah I'm a fan! |
Hifiman5, You made my day with your post about getting into Karen Souza. Her music is in constant rotation in my system. I lament the negative posts in response to the OP's perfectly honest question. He digs her and simply wanted to share that awareness with others on his music forum -- he did not ask for feedback. What purpose does it serve yourself or anyone else to denigrate such a widely-acclaimed jazz artist? Take a deep breath and think about what the effect might be when you post such snarky comments. My feeling is that it is bad karma. |
Music - that is why I spent a lot money, at least to me, on the best system I could afford. It is why I am on this forum - to learn about good music and how to make it sound amazing, and maybe share what little I can offer. Let’s let the beauty of the end result speak for itself. I just listened to Diana Krall, Live in Paris, which I found on this forum. Thank you! To me, it was fun, lovely, and even beautiful in parts. She seemed to recognize and appreciate the great musicians who played her songs. Most omportantly, it sounds amazing. To me, nothing else is important. Please keep sharing your music finds, and dont let negativity stop you. I promise I won’t like everything you do, and vice versa. So what? |
rpeluso OP Thanks. Not a big fan of her music, as I remember it growing up, but I’ll check it out. My current reference is Heart’s song Dream of the Archer, so I’m thinking something along those lines. I saw Ann Wilson perform it live in her prime when I was younger and her voice was astounding. But Little Queen is not a particularly special recording. I’m waiting for a new doom metal release by Oceans of Slumber, due out March 2nd. If that is a great recording, the song The Banished Heart could become my reference for female vocals. But I’m not holding my breath. |
